Zucchini Boats!!
Or just yummy pasta with meat sauce!
I saw this recipe first on Lisa Castellano's facebook, and oh boy is it good! If you don't feel like doing the zucchini boat part (takes about an extra hour) then you can just make the meat sauce and put it over pasta. If you have the time though, it's worth it to do the boats + how can you beat flavor and fewer carbs!?
Side note: This is the first time I had ever cooked with red pepper flakes and it totally blew my mind!
Side note: This is the first time I had ever cooked with red pepper flakes and it totally blew my mind!
**This recipe can also be used with which ever ground meat is your favorite! I have used both turkey and sweet or spicy sausage and every time it comes out delicious!
Makes 2 large servings.
Pre Heat Oven to 375. Time to complete 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
Large glass baking dish
Sauce pan (for cooking most of mea - I like to use a wok style pot - featured above)
Cheese grater
Wooden spoon
Tongs or spatula
Oven Mits
Tin Foil
Ingredients:
2 Zuchinis
24 oz favorite marinara sauce
1 TBS Olive Oil
1 lb favorite ground meat (sausage or turkey have worked well for me)
1/3 onion chopped
1 tsp Minced garlic (one large clove)
1/2 red bell pepper
Fresh parsley to taste
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
Pepper to taste
1/4 tsp red pepper
Grated mozzarella cheese to taste
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 TBS bread crumbs
Cooking Directions:
Step 1:
Rinse, wash, and chop peppers, parsley, onion, and mushrooms to desired size. Mince garlic. Grate Mozzarella cheese. Set aside for later.
Step 2:
Slice off ends of zucchinis and discard. Cut remainder in half longwise and scoop out most of fleshy inside. I did this by making a square with a knife around inside and scooping out flesh with a spoon. Chop up reserve flesh and save for step 4. Put hollowed boats in baking dish with about a cup of water, cover with foil, and place in oven for 20 minutes until a little tender. When done take out of oven.
Step 3:
As zucchinis are doing their thing in the oven put olive oil in sauce pan over medium heat. Place in meat, onion, bell pepper, and garlic into pan. Break up meat and stir as needed around 8-10 minutes or until veggies start to soften.
Step 4:
Add zucchini flesh, mushrooms, a hefty amount of marinara (save some for baking step 5), salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley, and red pepper flakes to pan. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat, cooking about 15 minutes. Zucchini should be done from the oven by now!
Step 5:
Take zucchini out of baking dish, remove water and put in remaining marinara sauce. Put boats back in and fill with meat filling. Try not to eat to much of the delicious filling when filling! If there is extra meat sauce just put in around boats. Bake covered in foil 20 more minutes - when done set oven to broil.
Step 6:
Take out of oven. Top boats with mozzarella, parmesan, and bread crumbs. Put back in oven until cheese has melted.
Step 7:
Serve and enjoy! Don't forget to brag to your friends where you found this and about how good it is!
Original post found here: Valeries Kitchen Post
Step 4:
Add zucchini flesh, mushrooms, a hefty amount of marinara (save some for baking step 5), salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley, and red pepper flakes to pan. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat, cooking about 15 minutes. Zucchini should be done from the oven by now!
Step 5:
Take zucchini out of baking dish, remove water and put in remaining marinara sauce. Put boats back in and fill with meat filling. Try not to eat to much of the delicious filling when filling! If there is extra meat sauce just put in around boats. Bake covered in foil 20 more minutes - when done set oven to broil.
Step 6:
Take out of oven. Top boats with mozzarella, parmesan, and bread crumbs. Put back in oven until cheese has melted.
Step 7:
Serve and enjoy! Don't forget to brag to your friends where you found this and about how good it is!
Original post found here: Valeries Kitchen Post
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